Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-24
UNIVERSITY EXHIBIT.
n Most Interesting Display from the Sta
College of AgricIlfura

CoileSe oil Agriculture.
The exhibit OF the College of Agricult-
ure of the State University occupies
prominent position on the main door, near
the northwest conservatory. 1t fills wall
space of about 800 square feet, upon which
the cereal collection is arranged in orna-
mental designs, the various shapes of the
grain heads producing a strikingly beauti-
ful effect upon the pale-bue background.
First on the right are the words State
University" the words running obliquely,
and each letter made of different grain,
to which label giving the specific name
Is attached. Next comes the collection of
barleys, the heads forming the outline of
diamond, or lozenge, and the straw extend
ing 10 the center. There are upwards of so
kinds of barley shown. Below the barleys,
and supporting them, is the collection of
spells, about dozen varieties, and next
the ryes, the collection including fifteen
varieties. Next toward the right, and &C.
cupying the central panel, is the university
mono gram, U. c." made of tall wheats.
head and straw, the letters being nearly
five feet in hight. The whole left half of
the design is filled with wheat heads, ar
ranged in different figures, fans and the
like, which show the heads to good ad-
vantage. There are over a hundred yarie-
ties in the collection, and thess labels, which
give not only the name but the origin
show that seed has been obtained from
all wheat-growing countries of the
world. Arranged in various ways around
the outside of the design described, is the
collection of Oats-about thirty-six varie-
ties being shown. Below the wall designs
is long narrow shelf upon which are bot
ties of the th he'd grain, of the same
kinds as shown in the heals. There are
upwards of one hundred and fiftv bottles
each properly labeled. This collection of
cereals, in variety, attracts much attentisn.
both from the striking manner of arrange
ment and for the opportunity which it af-
fords of studying the different characters
tics of heads, straw and kernel. One fea-
ture OF the display, which may be specially
noted, is the showing of wheats which re-
sist the attacks OF the Hessian fly. The
University, by its experimenting, has
found several varieties which bear a good
crop in spite of the insect.
Above, and on either side of the panel
holding the cereal collection. is an arrange
ment of bamboo canes grown on the Uni
versity. Most abundant is the graceful
Rsngal bamboo. 1t does not grow large
canes, but sufficiently 50 as to serve many
uses, and its foliage is feathery and dense.
Il
thing as can be grown on a large lawn.
Other species were also shown, as the
" Giant Bamboo" which grows to diam
eter OF six inches and hight of forty to
sixty feet, when the roots attain sufficient
age. Still another species the AruRdildriG
tdtcdtd, was shown; this is of medium size
making canes suitable for pickets for
chick cken-fences and the like The bamboos
are becoming quite widely distributed in
this State, and promise to serve an excel
lent purpose in farm economy.
Another branch of the University ex-
hibit this year is a showing of economic
plants in pots. Hitherto branches have
been brought up from the garden in
Berkeley, but they soon fade and become
unsightly. Bringing the plants in pots,
though the specimens must be smaller.
produces better results. So many of the
plants are likely to prove of great economic
importance that we mention them. espe-
cially as in most cases plants can be had
by applying to Professor Hilgard at Berke-
ley. a distribution is made in January of
each year, and residents OF the State are
furnished the plants, only q nominal charge
being made for packing.
On the right side of the display is q col
lection of fiber bearing plants. K includes
the ramle or China grass, which is now be-
coming prominent because of the success
attaihed in extracting its fiber by machin-
cry, thus enabling US to produce the mate
rialin competition with the cheap labor of
Asia. Another plant shown is the New
Zealand flax (Pilormium teItdr). Thousands
OF dolla worth of this fiber is exported
from New Zealand and manufactured into
cordage, etc, IN other countries. The i'm
mediate use of the plant here is for tying
plants and vines. bouquets, etc. 1t is of
great value in the garden. and seems
to grow well in this State except in the hot
test valleys, where experiments with it so
far have not succeeded very well. Other
textile plants are the Esparto grasses SO
much used in the Mediterranean region
for weaving into mats, baskets and the like
In pressing olive oil, in drying figs and for
other purposes the mats of this grass are
largely used in Europe. There is also an
interesting collection Of the European fiber
faxes which grow much higher than the
| variety grown for seed in some of our coast
counties.
There(s quite collection of plants pro-
oucing food for man and beast. The
Quinoa (CheiD9p0dism qstiHoa) plant from
Peru, and highly esteemed there for its
edible seed, is shown-two varieties, one
from Peru and the other from Germany.
There is also collection of salt bushes
(Atripler sp.) frors Australia. These plants
grow upon land somewhat Impregnated
with aikali, and are valuable in Australia
as sheep-forage. Experiments already
made indicate that they may found OF use
on alkali lands in some parts of this State
There are also different kinds of clovers
Yetches, etc.
The leading feature of the plant display
is the collection of wild grapes vines from
different parts of the world There are the
native vines Of China, Kashwir, ETC., as
well as the wild ,growths of Europe and
America. These plants show great variety
in growth, foliage, ETC.; and afford oppor-
tunity for an interesting comparative study.
The collection of trees and shrubs con-